Morehead, Ky. – On Tuesday the Ohio Valley Conference announced that the Morehead State University women’s cross country team is the recipient of the 2009-10 Team Sportsmanship Award in their respective sport.
Voted on by the student-athletes and coaches of the respective sports, the team awards are bestowed upon the Conference squads deemed to have best exhibited the standards of sportsmanship and ethical behavior as outlined by the OVC and NCAA. Included in the areas for evaluation are the conduct of student-athletes, coaches, staff and administrators and fans.
“Without sportsmanship there are truly no meaningful victories,” said Beth DeBauche, OVC Commissioner. “The recipients of the OVC Team Sportsmanship awards should accept this award with great pride for their fellow competitors have made it clear their teams exemplify the best in intercollegiate athletics. In receiving this prestigious honor other competitors are saying these student-athletes compete with class, respect their opponents and value fair play. That is quite a compliment as those are all traits that will lead to true victories throughout the course of life.”
This marks the first time the award has been given to the MSU women’s cross country team, but it is the fifth overall Team Sportsmanship Award for Morehead State Athletics.
MSU’s women’s cross country team finished sixth overall at the OVC Championship. Senior
Alexis King was the Eagles top finisher, finishing 21st overall. The Eagles other notable finish was eighth out of a strong field of 18 schools at the Vanderbilt Commodore Classic earlier this year.
"It is an honor to have won the award for our women’s program,” said Morehead State head coach
Tommy Barksdale, “This award symbolizes how our group of young ladies represents Morehead State University.”
Members of the women’s cross country team include senior
Alexis King, junior
Amanda Faust, sophomores
Liz Braunwart,
Jaimie Howard, and
Ruth Millard, and freshmen
Kate Bomar,
Holly Mandzak, and
Natalie Norman.
The Morehead State women’s cross country team will travel to Louisville, Ky., this Saturday Nov. 14, to race in the NCAA Southeast Regional meet.
